Amid SIR irregularity claims, Karnataka CEO orders BLOs to follow door-to-door process

Following complaints that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were not conducting door-to-door surveys, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V Anbukkumar on Friday (July 3) directed all BLOs to distribute enumeration forms for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by visiting every household, in accordance with the Election Commission's guidelines.

Also read: Kumaraswamy accuses Congress govt of manipulating Karnataka SIR, seeks EC action

The directive came after reports that some BLOs were distributing the SIR forms from their offices and other designated locations instead of carrying out the mandated house-to-house exercise.

EC guidelines

“As per the directions, guidelines and schedule issued by the Election Commission of India, distribution of enumeration forms to voters began in Karnataka on June 30. However, some complaints have been received alleging that BLOs are not visiting houses and are distributing the forms from offices,” Anbukkumar said in a letter to all district election officers.

“In view of the above complaints, you are hereby instructed to issue necessary directions to all BLOs to visit houses for the distribution of enumeration forms as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India and strictly adhere to the ECI’s directions and guidelines regarding all aspects of the Special Intensive Revision,” he said.

He said that voters who find it difficult to fill out the enumeration forms have the option of visiting Voter Facilitation Centres for assistance, and that this facility should be publicised.

Irregularities flagged

The house-to-house enumeration phase of the SIR in Karnataka, which commenced on June 30, will continue till July 29.

Also read: Karnataka's PRC push: DK Shivakumar's counter-move to tackle SIR?

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday (July 2) alleged massive irregularities in the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in the state.

Releasing video recordings of exercises being conducted at a community hall in Ramanagara and in Kunigal, he accused the ruling Congress of violating Election Commission procedures by influencing the exercise.

Accusing the Congress government and ruling party legislators of misusing BLOs by exerting pressure on and exploiting them, state BJP president B Y Vijayendra claimed officials were being made to sit inside mosques to complete the SIR process.

Permanent Residence Certificates

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has introduced a new operational framework for issuing Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs).

The State Revenue Department has directed the setting up of facilitation centres at the gram panchayat and urban ward levels, with applications to be accepted through Seva Sindhu, Atal Janasnehi Kendras, Grama One, Karnataka One and Bengaluru One centres. The government has directed Deputy Commissioners and local body officials to implement the system within seven days.